Air test of new gas line fails, causing road damage

Norwich — A portion of Washington Street was shut down in front of Sam’s Food Store at 275 Washington St. Friday after a newly installed gas coupling failed during a high-pressure air pressure test, causing the roadway to buckle, a Norwich Public Utilities official said.

NPU spokesman Mike Hughes said no natural gas was in the new line, and there were no injuries. Crews are replacing gas lines along Washington Street and Broadway and routinely perform air tests using 99 pounds of air pressure before running gas through the lines, Hughes said.

The rupture caused the roadway to buckle and damaged the bumper of a parked car.